Though he and wife Charlene are one of the most prominent couples in the showbiz industry, they’ve always wanted to make sure that their kids Atasha and Andres would not grow up entitled.
How exactly do they make sure to raise kids who are not spoiled? For starters, they make sure to constantly remind them to work hard for whatever it is they want. They also remind them that having celebrity parents doesn’t necessarily mean they will have it easier than other kids.
“Now, at the age of 15—they’re turning 16—at an early age, if you guys want to leave, if you want to leave the house, I will let you,” he said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Magandang Buhay. “If you want to explore life, you want to experience it, you want to learn it the hard way, the easy way—it’s your choice. Basta kami, nandito kami. (We’re just here for them.)”
Teaching them to work hard and to find their own path in life
photo: Charlene Gonzales instagram account
“They know na hindi sila nag-iisip ng materyal, ng mana because naturuan namin kung ano’ng amin ay amin. Kayo kung may gusto kayo, wala kayong makukuha from us. You will have to experience life and work for it.”
(They know not to dwell on material things, or an inheritance because we’ve taught them that what’s ours is ours. If they want something, you won’t get it from us. You will have to experience life and work for it.)
Just because both their parents are in showbiz, it doesn’t mean they should follow the same path. Aga says he and his wife Charlene will support whatever they wish to pursue in life–whether it’s heading their own company or simply being an employee.
“Mabuhay kayo sa totoo lang, kung ano kayo,” added the hands-on dad.
(Live your truth. Be true to who you are.)
Struggles as a young dad
Aga himself has had his share of struggle at a young age, when he became a dad to Luigi, his son with former partner Janice de Belen.
“That was hard before. It was hard. I was 17 years old. Gusto ko lang i-klaro sa lahat na akala nila aksidente. Hindi po aksidente ‘yun. Si Luigi was not — and never — an accident. Janice and I, at that time, planned it really,” he said in an interview on the same show.
(That was hard before. It was hard. I was 17 years old. I just want to clarify to everyone who thinks it was an accident. It wasn’t an accident. Luigi was not–and never–an accident. Janice and I, at that time, planned it really.)
Now 30, Luigi has a wife and family of his own and Aga couldn’t be more proud.
“What makes me happy and proud is the way Luigi is as a father and as a husband,” he gushed. “I want to tell you Luigi, no one can ever put you down as long as you protect your family, the world cannot damage you, remember that.”
sources: ABS-CBN news, PEP.ph
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